It Fall Ya' All!   

Every year around this time I am deeply reminded of how life is about change.   Growing up in the heartland of America, fall always was the signal for showing gratitude for the harvest from our abundant farmlands. They called our part of the world the "Wheat Capital of the World" for all the wheat that was grown in our part of the world.   The sea of golden waving wheat crops was a testament to a good summer with enough rain and sunny days and our home gardens would be overflowing with mouth-watering and nutritious homegrown goodness.  Homegrown tomatoes and cucumber can get this girl's mouth-watering anytime.

As I have grown older,  I have begun to include in our fall celebration the honoring of my ancestors and all other ancestors for all they have done in their lifetimes, so that we may live the life that we are fortunate enough to live today.    Each child that is born is standing on the shoulders of a...

How many times have you said something out loud and then later wished that you could take back what you had just said?   There have been times in the past that I have come to the realization that "I really didn't mean what I said." Have you ever had that happen to you?

One of my practices today is to watch the thoughts that cross my mind.  It has been a surprising discovery for me to come to understand that many of the thoughts that have crossed my mind are not mine.   They are thoughts that I have inherited from the situation that I was spending time in or from the environment that I was raised in.

This realization that I am not my thoughts and that I actually get to choose what thoughts I allow in my life has given me such relief and a new sense of freedom.   "Ah, I'm not my thoughts, and I get to choose if I want to act from what I am thinking or not."   A whole new world of possibilities has opened up for me.   

Have you ever had the...

Spending time outside in nature has been my favorite place to go to feel rejuvenated since I was a small child.  I just knew instinctively that when I would go outside to play a game, take a walk or spend time sitting on my front porch (like I am doing right now) that I would feel calmer, peaceful, centered and present to the moment.   

Throughout the ages, wisdom holders have shared with us the importance of spending time in nature to settle our body and minds so that we may hear the whispers of our soul.  Then we can open our hearts and listen to the truth that is trying to get our attention.   Time spent in nature is a wonderful way to calm the stress that in our modern world we can tend to carry in our bodies.   

Technology in today's world is a wonderful blessing.  I am writing this right now on a computer, and I will send it to a website where you will most likely access the blog post on your computer or mobile phone.   Amazing...

A dream of mine as a child is that I wanted to walk on water.   You know if Jesus could do it then why couldn't  I.   He even said these things I do you can do and greater.  That was all I needed to hear to start me on the adventure of trying to accomplish walking on water, just like Jesus.

Eureka, I knew I had found the answer to my self-imposed challenge to walk on water.  It arrived in my mailbox and was right there waiting for me inside a spring catalog that was full of all kinds of goodies promising loads of summer fun.   I was amazed to discover that they had just the tool I needed to accomplish my water-walking desire.  They had big inflatable feet that you were supposed to put on your own feet, and you would be able to walk on water.  We are talking they are some big shoes!

 Look out, I'm coming for you, Jesus!   My birthday was in the summer, so you know exactly what the first item on my birthday list was...Water...

 Remember hearing the slogan, "Just follow Your Nose, It always knows!"  I do and it has been one that I have repeated throughout my life many times. Little did I realized when I was growing up that that popular slogan would be a important part of the foundation of my life and how I have guided my children to navigate our world.  

I have always encouraged my kids to listen to their inner guidance system or intuition.   We lovingly call it listening to the phone call from God in our home.   My children know that they have a direct communication line with God or what some call the all knowing source of our creation.   

I was raised in a environment where listening to your intuition or inner guidance was not supported by the structured systems where I was educated.   We were encouraged to look outside of ourselves for answers.   Thankfully, God was persistent in an effort to get helpful guidance and messages to me in other ways.  ...

Would you like to know how I made a slam-dunk this year when back to school shopping for my daughter?   It was amazing!   I love, love, love living my life this way!    

I don't know about you, but for me, when it comes to shopping there are days that I enjoy taking my time looking for the perfect outfit or pair of rocking shoes.   However, there are days when my "to-do" list is overflowing.   On those days I need to be laser-focused to accomplish my goals for the day. 

On this particular day, my daughter needed a new pair of tennis shoes and not any pair of tennis shoes as she was longing for a new pair of Nike Air Force Ones.  They were all the rage at her school.  She had been wanting a pair for almost a year now.  Since she needed a new pair, I decided that we would buy them for her back to school shoes.

After researching the shoes, let's just say they were definitely were not a cheap pair of tennis shoes.  I love the feel...

Does it seem like the back to school date comes around sooner each year at your house?  It sure feels that way at our home.  

We have been busy checking the list of all the supplies our kids need for college and middle school.   First up is our college-bound son, Evan as he has to be ready two weeks ahead of our middle school daughter Allie.   

Our list consists of the usual requirements for kids; clothes, school supplies, bedding, computers, refrigerators for dorm rooms, foods that include plenty of healthy snack items that fit easily in a backpack.  

As a parent, I often wonder if my kids are prepared to meet the challenges of the world.   Have we provided them with the tools they need when a new situation arises?

In times like these, when I turn to God and listen, I am gently reminded of the way to be at peace.

We work on creating a firm foundation with our family.   Our foundation is built on God's unconditional love and support...

Have you ever received a gift from the least expected place?   It happened to me this week, and it surprised me.

My son Evan who is home from college for summer break was the one who delivered the gift most unexpectedly.   Evan has always parked his truck along our center circle drive.  Only on this particular day, he parked on the road that I had to drive along to park in my garage.  That meant I had to drive around his truck to get in and out of my garage.  

Not a huge deal.  Although it was a minor irritation to my ego, I am so used to having a straight shot out of my garage.  We get so attached to our patterns...

The surprise gift was delivered the day I had to go to the grocery store. It was a quick trip, as I was picking up a few needed items.  

 Summer is in full swing here in the south, and that means we have the most delicious array of fruits and vegetables from which to choose. When you walk in the front door of the grocery...

Moms, have you ever felt like you were alone on your journey in life?

Have you ever had feelings that you could not really be put into words?

Or maybe, you could put into words what you were feeling, but feared deep down inside of you that when you mustered the nerve to share what was challenging you that no one would get you, understand you,or they would think you were just being "emotional" or would that you would be left out of the in-group?

Well, I certainly can relate to those feelings and I have worked with many women who feel the same way.    It is so good that you are acknowledging those feelings if you are experiencing something similar!   That is one of the ways that our creator tries to get our attention in the busy modern world that we find ourselves living in today.   

Have you ever found yourself longing to stop the go, go, go routine?  Would you love to sit and chat with someone who really gets you?   Open your heart and expose...

Who knew that spending time in prayer and meditation is like sending flowers to heaven?

I certainly had not considered this joyful viewpoint of prayer and meditation growing up.   I always thought of prayer as asking for things I  or others needed help with. Then making sure I said thank you.

  Never did I consider that the time that I spent in communion with God/Creator as such a beautiful way to send flowers to heaven.  It has been said that praying is talking to God/Source and meditation is listening to God/Source.

Most people I know like to be listened to and heard when they speak.    In my experience, God loves when we take the time to pray and listen in quiet meditation for the answers.  I like to imagine that I am delivering a beautiful bouquet of flowers to God each time I sit in prayer and meditation.   It brings me joy and helps me feel more connected. 

What about you?  Have you sent any special delivery flowers to heaven...